The Brü Revü – Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout

BREAKING NEWS: There has been a Yeti sighting, and it was delicious!  There is a lot of hype surrounding the Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout and now I know why.  In full disclosure, my sample had aged for about 18 months. The Yeti poured a deep opaque brown with minimal dark tan head. The aroma was straight up semi-sweet chocolate, just like the Nestle morsels.  The initial tastes were a bit bitter as it was still cold, but as it warmed the Yeti turned into a deep semi-sweet chocolate wonderland.  This brew definitely benefited from a warming drinking temperature.  Underneath the chocolate notes were hints of a roasted coffee and a smokey nuttiness that finished with a caramel and toffee sweetness. I believe the hype!  The Yeti is an incredible stout and a fantastic drinking experience.

Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout

The Brü Revü – Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest

The Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest is one of the highest rated traditional German Oktoberfest and for good reason. While the Spaten Oktoberfest holds a spot for me the Hacker-Pschorr may be the complete German Oktoberfest.  It poured a clear deep amber with a full white head.  The aroma was malt and malt only with caramel malt as the dominant aroma.  The taste followed suit with a perfect sweet malt that was fully committed to the nutty caramel malt profile with little to no hop presence.  It’s was a fully malt embraced beer that makes me want to be in the big tents in Munich hoisting a stein.  Hacker-Pschorr is excellent Oktoberfest that is a signature of the season.

Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest

The Brü Revü – Spaten Oktoberfest

The Spaten Oktoberfest is THE Oktoberfest beer for me.  On top of it signifying the classic Oktoberfest beer profile it was a gateway beer for me as well.  I started on the malty side of things and this Oktoberfest is a classic malt fest that sprang my taste buds into the wider world of beer.  So, the Spaten Oktoberfest holds a special place in my beer heart and I still love it to this day.  It poured a dark amber with a subtle off white head.  The aroma was all caramel malt with slight roasted malt, but definitely little to no hop presence.  The taste was an obvious malt forward profile with caramel malt and some nutty roastiness as well.  There was a slight spicy bitterness on the finish that keeps your attention.  While I’ll admit there is nothing over the top spectacular about this lager, it hits my taste buds in all the right spots.  It’s easy to drink with enough flavor to distinguish itself from a league of lagers and keeps me looking forward to Oktoberfest every year.

Spaten Oktoberfest

The Brü Revü – SKA Autumnal Mole Stout

The Ska Autumnal Mole Stout was a gift from my dad that has been sitting in the fridge for almost a year now.  I have no excuse as to why I let it sit that long, but now that it’s the season again I decided to have it.  This is an interesting sounding brew: A stout brewed with cocoa nibs, spices and three kinds of chile peppers.  The beer poured an opaque brown with a decent amount of sediment and little to no head.  The aroma was of sweet caramel malt and cocoa that did not fully represent the flavors to come.  The taste was slightly sweet and malty with less cocoa on than the aroma, but what the aroma did not represent was the spice.  There were flavors of cinnamon and cardamom with a slight hint of clove which was all very autumn appropriate.  While I didn’t detect much heat from the chile peppers I did detect a bit of their bitter presence.  The flavor did leave the lingering presence of Mole on my palate which is an obvious target.  Definitely an interesting brew and probably with more heat fresh but good nonetheless.

SKA Autumnal Mole Stout

The Brü Revü – Austin Beerworks Heavy Machinery Belgian IPA

Another Austin Beerworks Heavy Machinery IPA, another masterpiece.  The Belgian IPA may be my favorite of the series so far.  At least it’s up there with the Double IPA.  At first blush it was like a hopped up Belgian Trippel which is right in my wheelhouse.  It was very similar to the Green Flash Le Freak which I loved so it’s easy to see my love for this beer.  On to the formal review:  It poured a light golden yellow with a pillowy white head.  The fruity Belgian yeast notes are apparent on the aroma along with floral and grassy hops.  The taste was pure bliss.  Fresh fruity Belgian trippel tones were quickly followed by citrus and slight pine hops that added a flavorful bitterness while not totally overpowering the Belgian trippel notes.  The Belgian IPA was a well crafted beer with the differing flavors playing off each other perfectly without one overwhelming the other while maintaining a full flavor experience.  This is one phenomenal brew.

Austin Beerworks Heavy Machinery Belgian IPA